So...I had this former intern of mine reach out. He spoke of his time reflecting since we've stopped sharing space...his time in movement...his time in reverie and thoughts...he took far too many pictures in order to capture what I can only assume was ungraspable beauty and decided to share a few with me- it was kind. I smiled thinking about our conversations and although I didn't write back immediately, he sat in my head for days as I would replay the space we shared- it was nice.
Then without skipping a beat...another one showed up...something in the air. A different intern wrote to me doing things that I had only hoped that I could move them to do...she was polite. Spoke of how I helped her and supported her. She gave me too much credit and didn't quite keep enough for herself...but that was her...awkward as hell.
If I'm being honest- I was moved. I was moved by their thankfulness...by their willingness to say that I had an impact on them. That the things I did were not lost...
Years ago, before I was asked to be the godfather for my friend's son, I was invited to his birthday party...I think he was turning 7 or something. I had asked my friend what he wanted and I remember her saying that he was into Legos. Being the person that I am, I decided to go out and buy him a massively expensive Lego set. In fact, it was sized in a way that the only way I could wrap it was to put it into an even bigger box...I went to public storage or something like that and got the one box that was just shy of a dang coat closet because that's the only one that I could fit. I fit the Legos into the box and filled it with lots of other stuff KNOWING that I had the best gift in town for him- I was proud and excited to see him tear into this box and see what I had got him.
The big day comes and as he opens up the box, I could tell he was excited. He was glowing...happy...cheering and I stood there staring and arrogantly glancing at all the other people that could not compete- I won.
By the time I moved my glance back to him though...he had put all the gifts aside and jumped into the massive box, instead. I remember thinking that he had the greatest Lego set in history and little mini toys/fillers galore and all that he REALLY cared about was the damn box that it came in. I was told that he played with that box for months and never really opened any of the other gifts unless it was for use in the box. Even today, I smile as a sensible and head shaking sigh comes out of me.
I think about these former interns of mine. They send well wishes, thoughtful ideas and amazing statements of gratitude and take-aways from our time together and honestly sometimes, I don't even remember saying those things. Ha...another sensible chuckle.
But that's the point, right? I sometimes think that I'm giving them a particular gift but they're playing in the box. The point isn't the specific...but the whole. Take moments readers...take notice or don't...but act thoughtfully and with good intention in what you throw out in the world because you never know what part of what you do is the part that actually sticks. I suppose that's why I offer entirely and with good intention because I'm not sure which part will actually be taken in.